Lady Hounds open season with loss at No. 4 WB

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BY PCC STAFF

WEST BURLINGTON - The No. 4 team in the state in class 3A proved too much out of the gate for the Fort Madison Lady Hounds in their season opener Wednesday night.

Sophomores Lauren Summers and Abbey Bence combined to hold Fort Madison to five hits in a 10-3 loss at the Falcon's field.

Logan Johnson opened the scoring in the second inning for Fort Madison and tied things up with a two-out double to left fielder Kylee Logan driving in Erika Kruse. But Emily Steffensmeier was gunned down at home on the relay from Logan to Bence to catcher Logan Kelley to end the inning.

West Burlington would open things up with a four-run 3rd inning. highlighted by two-run homer from Kelley with no outs. Fort Madison's Neeley Rehm, who started in the circle for the Lady Hounds, would entice a couple grounders and fly out to right to end the inning.

Fort Madison had something going in the top of the fourth when Rehm walked and Lauryn Helmick got plunked. With Taylor Johnson running for Rehm, Kruse hit into a fielder's choice to the pitcher and Johnson was forced at third, but a throwing error on Bence allowed Helmick and Kruse to advance a base.

Kendall Beebe was then hit by Summers and that loaded the bases. Steffensmeier would walk scoring Helmick and keeping the bases loaded with one out. Johnson would strike out and then Steffensmeier would get picked off on a snap throw from Kelley down the first base line to end the inning.

West Burlington would tack on five more in the fourth inning forcing Rehm from the game in favor of Kruse. Kruse was able to slam the door on the Falcons going 2 2/3 innings without giving up a hit or a run and striking out three on one walk.

Fort Madison picked up another run in the fifth. After a strike out and a ground out left Fort Madison with two outs and nobody on, Allyson Helmick, Rehm, and Lauryn Helmick each drew consecutive walks. Kruse singled to center scoring Allyson Helmick. Bence would then come on in relief of Summers for the Lady Falcons and get Beebe to hit into a force at third to end the inning stranding two.

Bence would give up three hits in the next 2 1/3 but hold the Lady Hounds scoreless while striking out three to give the Lady Falcons (2-0) the win.

Johnson was 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead Fort Madison at the plate. Cashman, Rehm, and Kruse had the other hits for Fort Madison. The Lady Hounds stranded eight runners in the game.

The line on Rehm, who took the loss, was 10 runs, six earned on 11 hits, while striking out three and walking three. Summers got the win giving up three runs all earned on two hits while striking out eight and walking eight.

Fort Madison (0-1) was scheduled to play Muscatine tonight, but that game has been postponed to a later date due to weather.

bloodhounds, fort madison, high school, Hounds, Pen City Current, softball, sports, West Burlington

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